May 13, 2025 - Spending time with Specter and Moraine, as well as the T046B1s and T046C2!

It was a cool and calm morning as we left the dock, spirits high and binoculars at the ready. With spring settling in and more wildlife returning to our waters by the day, we headed north into the Strait of Georgia, excited for what the day might bring, and it didn’t take long before we found ourselves in the company of giants.

Not far into our journey, the telltale spouts of two humpback whales broke the horizon. With careful observation (and some help from our trusty ID guides), we confirmed these whales as Moraine (BCY1465) and Specter (BCX1333calf2023), two individuals who have been spotted in these waters in past seasons. These two weren’t just travelling through today; they were curious.

In a moment that left us all grinning, Moraine and Specter decided to check us out, circling near the boat and surfacing just meters away. This kind of inquisitive, playful behaviour is something you will sometimes see from humpbacks, although it can be dangerous for them. Anytime whales come in close proximity to a boat it can be dangerous for them, if the boat is on the engine noise can interrupt their hearing, the propellers may physically damage them, or the people themselves might cause issues. Lucky for these whales, our skilled captains knew exactly what to do in this situation, and that is just to wait. Eventually the whales will have their curiosity satisfied, and carry on to the distance where it’s safe to start up again. Usually, this behaviour happens later in the year. After all, these humpbacks have only recently returned from their long migrations to Hawaii or Mexico, where they spend the winter months mating and calving — and crucially, not eating. Now that they’re back in feeding territory, they’re usually more focused on fueling up than socializing, so this curious visit was a rare and special moment.

After some time with the humpbacks, we turned south toward Stuart Channel, and our timing couldn’t have been better. There we found the T046B1s and T046C2, two Bigg’s (transient) orca groups traveling north together.

T046B1 Tread ♀ (2003)
T046B1A Tsakani ♀ (2015)
T046B1C ♂ (2022)

T046C2 Sam ♀ (2009)

These two families are closely related; in fact, T046B1 and T046C2 are cousins, which explains their tight travel formation. It’s always fascinating to witness how strong and enduring the family bonds are in orca culture, especially in these matrilineal groups. While they weren’t engaged in any active hunting or surface behaviours, watching them cruise through the channel together was a beautiful reminder of the quiet connection that ties these whales together.

As if that wasn’t enough, the day offered even more wildlife highlights. We spotted harbour seals lounging near the rocks and Steller sea lions barking and posturing on their haul-outs. We also made a stop at the Gabriola bluffs, a local favourite, where we caught sight of a bald eagle nest high up in the trees and watched cormorants nesting along the cliffs.

It was an amazing day spent on the water, and the onboard Marine Naturalists Aly Kohlman and Hayleigh Hilbert captured some great photos throughout their time on the water, which are available below.

Specter’s dorsal fin. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.

Moraine’s dorsal fin. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.

Specter surfacing. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.

Look how round this humpback is! Photo by Aly Kohlman.

A good look at Moraine’s blowholes. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

T046B1C following T046C2 Sam. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.

T046C2 Sam with T046B1C beside her. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.

T046B1 Tread. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.

A moon jellyfish floating by. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

Steller Sea Lions fighting over the best spots on the rocks as usual. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

“I’m just gonna crawl right over you, pardon me.” says this Steller! Photo by Aly Kohlman.

T046B1A Tsakani picking up speed! Photo by Aly Kohlman.

Can you spot both whales? Photo by Aly Kohlman.

T046B1A Tsakani with her giant eye patch! Photo by Aly Kohlman.

Our open boat Keta. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

A California Sea Lion poses on the logs. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.

This one looks very relaxed. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.

Bonnie in her nest! Photo by Aly Kohlman.

A closer look at Bonnie the bald eagle. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

Clyde watches over Bonnie from above their nest. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

An eaglet getting fed, so far we have seen one baby with Bonnie! Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.

Cormorants on the Gabriola Bluffs, can you spot the blue inside the beak? Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.

Check out that beautiful eye on this cormorant, it looks like a jewel! Photo by Aly Kohlman.

Author: Val WatsonMay 13, 2025WhalesComment